Intelligent syringe changing capability with multiple syringe seats on autosampler

Scientific instruments may include a complex arrangement of movable components, sensors, input and output ports, energy sources, and consumable components. Failures or changes in any part of this arrangement may result in a “downed” instrument, one that is not able to perform its intended function.

In a first aspect, a scientific instrument support apparatus can include evaluation logic to identify a first syringe has a bent needle, a bent plunger, a blocked needle, or a stuck plunger; syringe logic to switch from the first syringe to a second syringe; and reporting logic to generate an entry in an event log or notify a user when there is a syringe problem.

In various embodiments of the first aspect, the evaluation logic, the syringe logic, and the reporting logic can be implemented by a common computing device.

In various embodiments of the first aspect, at least one of the evaluation logic, the syringe logic, and the Reporting logic can be implemented by a computing device remote from the scientific instrument.

In various embodiments of the first aspect, at least one of the evaluation logic, the syringe logic, and the Reporting logic can be implemented by a user computing device.

In various embodiments of the first aspect, at least one of the evaluation logic, the syringe logic, and the Reporting logic can be implemented in the scientific instrument.

In various embodiments of the first aspect, the evaluation logic can further detect an injection anomaly based on an evaluation of a chromatographic dataset.

In various embodiments of the first aspect, the evaluation logic can identify the first syringe has a bent needle or a bent plunger based on image data.

In various embodiments of the first aspect, the syringe logic can further repeat an analysis of the sample when a bent needle or a bent plunger is not identified after the injection anomaly is detected.

In various embodiments of the first aspect, the evaluation logic can further includes pausing a sequence of sample analyses when the bent needle, the bent plunger, the blocked needle, or the stuck plunger is identified.

In various embodiments of the first aspect, the syringe logic can further includes performing an initialization routine on the second syringe prior.

In various embodiments of the first aspect, the reporting logic can generate an entry in an event log or can notify the user if the initialization routine fails or produces an error.

In various embodiments of the first aspect, the syringe logic can repeat the analysis of a sample when the initialization routine completes without errors.

In various embodiments of the first aspect, the syringe logic can resume the sequence of sample analyses after the initialization routine completes without errors.

In various embodiments of the first aspect, the evaluation logic can evaluate the chromatographic data set from the repeat analysis for a further injection anomaly.

In various embodiments of the first aspect, the syringe logic can resume the sequence of sample analyses when the evaluation logic does not detect an injection anomaly during the repeat analysis.

In various embodiments of the first aspect, the reporting logic can generate an entry in the event log or can notify the user when an injection anomaly is detected during the repeat analysis.

In a second aspect, a method for scientific instrument support can include identifying a first syringe has a bent needle, a bent plunger, a blocked needle, or a stuck plunger; switching from the first syringe to a second syringe; and generating an entry in an event log or notifying a user of a syringe problem.

In various embodiments of the second aspect, the method can further include detecting an injection anomaly based on an evaluation of a chromatographic dataset.

In various embodiments of the second aspect, the method can further include identifying the first syringe has a bent needle or a bent plunger based on image data.

In various embodiments of the second aspect, the method can further include repeating an analysis of the sample when a bent needle or a bent plunger is not identified after the injection anomaly is detected.

In various embodiments of the second aspect, the method can further include pausing a sequence of sample analyses when the bent needle, the bent plunger, the blocked needle, or the stuck plunger is identified.

In various embodiments of the second aspect, the method can further include performing an initialization routine on the second syringe prior.

In various embodiments of the second aspect, the method can further include generating an entry in an event log or notifying the user when the initialization routine fails or produces an error.

In various embodiments of the second aspect, the method can further include repeating analysis of a sample when the initialization routine completes without errors.

In various embodiments of the second aspect, the method can further include resuming the sequence of sample analyses after the initialization routine completes without errors.

In various embodiments of the second aspect, the method can further include evaluating the chromatographic data set from the repeat analysis for a further injection anomaly.

In various embodiments of the second aspect, the method can further include resuming the sequence of sample analyses when the evaluation logic does not detect an injection anomaly during the repeat analysis.

In various embodiments of the second aspect, the method can further include generating an entry in the event log or notifying the user when an injection anomaly is detected during the repeat analysis.

In various embodiments of the second aspect, one or more non-transitory computer readable media can have instructions thereon that, when executed by one or more processing devices of a scientific instrument support apparatus, cause the scientific instrument support apparatus to perform the method of the second aspect.

Disclosed herein are scientific instrument support systems, as well as related methods, computing devices, and computer-readable media. For example, in some embodiments, A scientific instrument support apparatus, comprising evaluation logic to identify a first syringe has a bent needle, a bent plunger, a blocked needle, or a stuck plunger; syringe logic to switch from the first syringe to a second syringe; and reporting logic to notify a user of a syringe problem.

The scientific instrument support embodiments disclosed herein may achieve improved performance relative to conventional approaches. For example, the automatic detection of a syringe problem and switching to an alternate syringe without user intervention can improve system utilization by reducing downtime associated with syringe malfunctions. Additionally, the automatic recovery from a syringe problem reduces the risk of wasted instrument time and reagents from an undetected syringe malfunction when operating the system unattended for extended periods. The embodiments disclosed herein thus provide improvements to scientific instrument technology (e.g., improvements in the computer technology supporting such scientific instruments, among other improvements).

The embodiments disclosed herein may achieve improved reliability and data collection and higher throughput relative to conventional approaches. For example, conventional approaches rely upon user intervention to detect and mitigate the syringe malfunction. However, these approaches suffer from a number of technical problems and limitations, including multiple unusable datasets being collected for samples the instrument attempts to analyze after the syringe malfunction, wasting both instrument time and reagents. Conventional approaches can lead to decreased laboratory throughput if the syringe malfunction cannot be detected and corrected when it occurs.

Various ones of the embodiments disclosed herein may improve upon conventional approaches to achieve the technical advantages of higher throughput and improved data quality by reducing attempts to analyze samples when there is a syringe malfunction and automatically switching to an alternate syringe to correct the syringe malfunction. Such technical advantages are not achievable by routine and conventional approaches, and all users of systems including such embodiments may benefit from these advantages. The technical features of the embodiments disclosed herein are thus decidedly unconventional in the field of autosamplers, as are the combinations of the features of the embodiments disclosed herein. The computational disclosed herein do not only involve the collection and comparison of information but apply new analytical and technical techniques to change the operation of the autosampler. The present disclosure thus introduces functionality that neither a conventional computing device, nor a human, could perform.

Accordingly, the embodiments of the present disclosure may serve any of a number of technical purposes, such as controlling a specific technical system or process; determining from measurements how to control a machine; digital image analysis; identifying a vaccine candidate (e.g., based on a phylogenetic tree); or providing a medical diagnosis by an automated system processing physiological measurements. In particular, the present disclosure provides technical solutions to technical problems, including but not limited to detecting and recovering from syringe malfunctions in an autosampler.

The embodiments disclosed herein thus provide improvements to autosampler technology (e.g., improvements in the computer technology supporting autosamplers, among other improvements).

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and structural or logical changes may be made, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense.

Various operations may be described as multiple discrete actions or operations in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the subject matter disclosed herein. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations may not be performed in the order of presentation. Operations described may be performed in a different order from the described embodiment. Various additional operations may be performed, and/or described operations may be omitted in additional embodiments.

For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrases “A and/or B” and “A or B” mean (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrases “A, B, and/or C” and “A, B, or C” mean (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B, and C). Although some elements may be referred to in the singular (e.g., “a processing device”), any appropriate elements may be represented by multiple instances of that element, and vice versa. For example, a set of operations described as performed by a processing device may be implemented with different ones of the operations performed by different processing devices.

The description uses the phrases “an embodiment,” “various embodiments,” and “some embodiments,” each of which may refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments. Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments of the present disclosure, are synonymous. When used to describe a range of dimensions, the phrase “between X and Y” represents a range that includes X and Y. As used herein, an “apparatus” may refer to any individual device, collection of devices, part of a device, or collections of parts of devices. The drawings are not necessarily to scale.

1 FIG. 4 FIG. 5 FIG. 1000 1000 1000 1000 4000 1000 5000 is a block diagram of a scientific instrument support modulefor performing support operations, in accordance with various embodiments. The scientific instrument support modulemay be implemented by circuitry (e.g., including electrical and/or optical components), such as a programmed computing device. The logic of the scientific instrument support modulemay be included in a single computing device or may be distributed across multiple computing devices that are in communication with each other as appropriate. Examples of computing devices that may, singly or in combination, implement the scientific instrument support moduleare discussed herein with reference to the computing deviceof, and examples of systems of interconnected computing devices, in which the scientific instrument support modulemay be implemented across one or more of the computing devices, is discussed herein with reference to the scientific instrument support systemof.

1000 1002 1004 1006 1000 The scientific instrument support modulemay include first logic, second logic, and third logic. As used herein, the term “logic” may include an apparatus that is to perform a set of operations associated with the logic. For example, any of the logic elements included in the support modulemay be implemented by one or more computing devices programmed with instructions to cause one or more processing devices of the computing devices to perform the associated set of operations. In a particular embodiment, a logic element may include one or more non-transitory computer-readable media having instructions thereon that, when executed by one or more processing devices of one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform the associated set of operations. As used herein, the term “module” may refer to a collection of one or more logic elements that, together, perform a function associated with the module. Different ones of the logic elements in a module may take the same form or may take different forms. For example, some logic in a module may be implemented by a programmed general-purpose processing device, while other logic in a module may be implemented by an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). In another example, different ones of the logic elements in a module may be associated with different sets of instructions executed by one or more processing devices. A module may not include all of the logic elements depicted in the associated drawing; for example, a module may include a subset of the logic elements depicted in the associated drawing when that module is to perform a subset of the operations discussed herein with reference to that module.

1002 1002 The first logicmay detect injection anomalies during analysis of a sample and identify a bent needle or plunger, a blocked needle, or a stuck plunger. In various embodiment, the first logicmay detect injection anomalies by obtaining a chromatogram and determining if the chromatogram is representative of a successful result or if a problem such as a missed injection occurred. In various embodiments, when a missed injection occurs, the first logic can use image data to determine the cause of the missed injection such as by using image data to detect a bent needle or plunger, a blocked needle, or a stuck plunger.

1002 1002 In various embodiments, the first logiccan instruct the scientific instrument to process a sample, such as by using an autosampler to take an aliquot from a sample vial, inject the aliquot onto a chromatography column, elute the components of the sample from the column, and use an analyzer to collect data on the components of the sample. First logiccan further receive the data from the analyzer and store the data into a database, filesystem, or the like for further processing.

1002 1002 In various embodiments, first logiccan include calculating an intensity score for the chromatogram and comparing the score to a threshold. Alternatively, first logiccan apply a machine learning model to the chromatogram to classify the chromatogram as successful or abnormal.

1002 1002 1002 1002 In various embodiments, the first logiccan instruct an image capture device to capture an image of the syringe and analyze the image data to determine if the needle or plunger is bent or misaligned. In various embodiments, first logiccan analyze the image data to identify the location of the tip of the needle within the image, such as by pattern matching. Additionally, first logiccan determine if the tip location is inside or outside of an acceptable area of the image. Alternatively, first logiccan apply a machine learning model to the image data to classify the needle or plunger as bent or not bent.

1004 The second logicmay switch to an alternate syringe, perform a syringe precheck, and repeat an analysis of a sample.

1004 1004 In various embodiments, second logicmay instruct an autosampler to rotate a syringe holder from a first position in which the bent syringe is in an active location to a second position in which an alternate syringe is in the active location. Alternatively, the second logicmay instruct the autosampler to place the bent syringe in an empty location on a syringe rack and grab the alternate syringe from another location on a syringe rack.

1004 1004 1004 In various embodiments, second logicmay instruct the autosampler to perform a self-alignment check of the alternate syringe on an injection port, sample vials, and wash vials. The second logicmay also instruct the autosampler to perform a calibration on the syringe, such as by finding the zero point for the syringe plunger and finding a bottom out position of the syringe needle. The second logicmay also instruct the autosampler to perform a vial check to ensure there are no missing or misaligned vials.

1006 1006 1006 1006 1006 The third logicmay notify a user and/or log a syringe problem, such as within a secure audit trail. In various embodiments, the third logicmay log the detection of an anomaly and corrective actions taken, and if operation was successfully restored or not. In various embodiments, the third logicmay send a message, such as an email, a push message, a text message, or other forms of electronic communication to the user to notify them of the detected problem. In various embodiments, the third logicmay send a message to the user if operation is not successfully restored. The third logiccan also track the number of available alternate syringes and notify the user when the number of available alternate syringes is low so the user can replace malfunctioning syringes that have been removed from operation with new syringes such that more alternate syringes are available.

1006 1006 In various embodiments, the third logiccan also suggest the user order replacement syringes via an ecommerce site or even automatically order the replacement syringes. In some embodiments, the third logicmay track the number of times syringes are replaced across one or more instruments. In other embodiments, the third logic may communication with an inventory tracking system to determine the number of syringes available in current inventory.

2 FIG. 1 FIG. 3 FIG. 4 FIG. 5 FIG. 2 FIG. 2000 2000 1000 3000 4000 5000 2000 is a flow diagram of a methodof performing support operations, in accordance with various embodiments. Although the operations of the methodmay be illustrated with reference to particular embodiments disclosed herein (e.g., the scientific instrument support modulesdiscussed herein with reference to, the GUIdiscussed herein with reference to, the computing devicesdiscussed herein with reference to, and/or the scientific instrument support systemdiscussed herein with reference to), the methodmay be used in any suitable setting to perform any suitable support operations. Operations are illustrated once each and in a particular order in, but the operations may be reordered and/or repeated as desired and appropriate (e.g., different operations performed may be performed in parallel, as suitable).

2002 1002 1000 2002 At, first operations may be performed. For example, the first logicof a support modulemay perform the operations of. The first operations may include detecting injection anomalies during analysis of a sample and identify bent needles or bent plungers using image data of the syringe. In various embodiment, the first operations may detect injection anomalies by obtaining a chromatogram and determining if the chromatogram is representative of a successful result or if a problem such as a missed injection occurred.

In various embodiments, the first operations can include instructing the scientific instrument to process a sample, such as by using an autosampler to take an aliquot from a sample vial, inject the aliquot onto a chromatography column, elute the components of the sample from the column, and use an analyzer to collect data on the components of the sample. The first operations can further receive the data from the analyzer and store the data into a database, filesystem, or the like for further processing.

In various embodiments, the first operations can include calculating an intensity score for the chromatogram and comparing the score to a threshold. Alternatively, first operations can apply a machine learning model to the chromatogram to classify the chromatogram as successful or abnormal.

In various embodiments, the first operations can include instructing an image capture device to capture an image of the syringe and analyze the image data to determine if the needle or plunger is bent or misaligned. In various embodiments, first operations can analyze the image data to identify the location of the tip of the needle within the image, such as by pattern matching, and determine if the tip location is inside or outside of an acceptable area of the image. Alternatively, the first operations can apply a machine learning model to the image data to classify the needle as bent or not bent.

2004 1004 1000 2004 At, second operations may be performed. For example, the second logicof a support modulemay perform the operations of. The second operations may include switching to an alternate syringe, performing a syringe precheck, and repeat an analysis of the sample.

1004 In various embodiments, second operations may include instructing an autosampler to rotate a syringe holder from a first position in which the damaged syringe is in an active location to a second position in which an alternate syringe is in the active location. Alternatively, the second logicmay instruct the autosampler to place the damaged syringe in an empty location on a syringe rack and grab the alternate syringe from another location on a syringe rack.

In various embodiments, the second operations may instruct the autosampler to perform a self-alignment check of the alternate syringe on an injection port, sample vials, and wash vials. The second operations may also instruct the autosampler to perform a calibration on the syringe, such as by finding the zero point for the syringe plunger and finding a bottom out position of the syringe needle. The second operations may also instruct the autosampler to perform a vial check to ensure there are no missing vials.

2006 1006 1000 2006 At, third operations may be performed. For example, the third logicof a support modulemay perform the operations of. The third operations may include notifying a user and/or logging a syringe problem. In various embodiments, the third operations may log the detection of an anomaly and corrective actions taken, and if operation was successfully restored or not. In various embodiments, the third operations may send a message, such as an email, a push message, a text message, other forms of electronic communication, or any combination thereof, to the user to notify the user of the detected problem. In various embodiments, the third operations may send a message to the user if operation is not successfully restored. The third operations can also track the number of available alternate syringes and notify the user when the number of available alternate syringes is low so the user can replace malfunctioning syringes that have been removed from operation with new syringes such that more alternate syringes are available.

5020 5010 5010 4010 4012 5 FIG. 5 FIG. 5 FIG. 4 FIG. 4 FIG. The scientific instrument support methods disclosed herein may include interactions with a human user (e.g., via the user local computing devicediscussed herein with reference to). These interactions may include providing information to the user (e.g., information regarding the operation of a scientific instrument such as the scientific instrumentof, information regarding a sample being analyzed or other test or measurement performed by a scientific instrument, information retrieved from a local or remote database, or other information) or providing an option for a user to input commands (e.g., to control the operation of a scientific instrument such as the scientific instrumentof, or to control the analysis of data generated by a scientific instrument), queries (e.g., to a local or remote database), or other information. In some embodiments, these interactions may be performed through a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes a visual display on a display device (e.g., the display devicediscussed herein with reference to) that provides outputs to the user and/or prompts the user to provide inputs (e.g., via one or more input devices, such as a keyboard, mouse, trackpad, or touchscreen, included in the other I/O devicesdiscussed herein with reference to). The scientific instrument support systems disclosed herein may include any suitable GUIs for interaction with a user.

3 FIG. 4 FIG. 5 FIG. 4 FIG. 3000 3000 4010 4000 4 5000 3000 4012 depicts an example GUIthat may be used in the performance of some or all of the support methods disclosed herein, in accordance with various embodiments. As noted above, the GUImay be provided on a display device (e.g., the display devicediscussed herein with reference to) of a computing device (e.g., the computing devicediscussed herein with reference to FIG.) of a scientific instrument support system (e.g., the scientific instrument support systemdiscussed herein with reference to), and a user may interact with the GUIusing any suitable input device (e.g., any of the input devices included in the other I/O devicesdiscussed herein with reference to) and input technique (e.g., movement of a cursor, motion capture, facial recognition, gesture detection, voice recognition, actuation of buttons, etc.).

3000 3002 3004 3006 3008 3000 3 FIG. The GUImay include a data display region, a data analysis region, a scientific instrument control region, and a settings region. The particular number and arrangement of regions depicted inis simply illustrative, and any number and arrangement of regions, including any desired features, may be included in a GUI.

3002 5010 3002 3002 5 FIG. The data display regionmay display data generated by a scientific instrument (e.g., the scientific instrumentdiscussed herein with reference to). For example, the data display regionmay display chromatography data collected on a sample. Additionally, the data display regionmay provide a visual indication that the chromatography data is indicative of an injection anomaly.

3004 3002 3004 3002 3004 3000 The data analysis regionmay display the results of data analysis (e.g., the results of analyzing the data illustrated in the data display regionand/or other data). For example, the data analysis regionmay display chromatographic information, such as retention time and intensity of peaks in the chromatographic data. In some embodiments, the data display regionand the data analysis regionmay be combined in the GUI(e.g., to include data output from a scientific instrument, and some analysis of the data, in a common graph or region).

3006 5010 3006 3006 5 FIG. The scientific instrument control regionmay include options that allow the user to control a scientific instrument (e.g., the scientific instrumentdiscussed herein with reference to). For example, the scientific instrument control regionmay include settings to configure the syringe switching operation. The scientific instrument control regionmay also include an interface to indicate the status of syringe locations, including which locations are empty, which locations include alternate syringes, and which locations include malfunctioning syringes that need to be replaced. In various embodiments, the instrument can be configured to utilize multiple types of syringes and the configuration of the syringe swapping operation can include grouping syringe locations by type of syringe such that a malfunctioning syringe can be replaced by a similar syringe and that multiple types of syringes can have alternate or backup syringes available.

3008 3000 3002 3004 4004 3008 3008 3008 4 FIG. The settings regionmay include options that allow the user to control the features and functions of the GUI(and/or other GUIs) and/or perform common computing operations with respect to the data display regionand data analysis region(e.g., saving data on a storage device, such as the storage devicediscussed herein with reference to, sending data to another user, labeling data, etc.). For example, the settings regionmay include notification settings to configure when and how syringe events are logged and when and how messages are sent to the user. For example, the settings regioncan include options to log and/or notify when a syringe malfunction is detected, when a syringe is replaced, when the sequence is resumed, when the replacement syringe does not pass the syringe precheck, and the like. Additionally, settings regioncan include options for how to notify the user as well which can include configuration of an email or phone number depending on the type of notification sent to the user.

1000 4000 1000 4000 4000 4000 4000 1000 5010 5020 5030 5040 4 FIG. 5 FIG. As noted above, the scientific instrument support modulemay be implemented by one or more computing devices.is a block diagram of a computing devicethat may perform some or all of the scientific instrument support methods disclosed herein, in accordance with various embodiments. In some embodiments, the scientific instrument support modulemay be implemented by a single computing deviceor by multiple computing devices. Further, as discussed below, a computing device(or multiple computing devices) that implements the scientific instrument support modulemay be part of one or more of the scientific instrument, the user local computing device, the service local computing device, or the remote computing deviceof.

4000 4000 4002 4004 4000 4000 4010 4010 4 FIG. 4 FIG. The computing deviceofis illustrated as having a number of components, but any one or more of these components may be omitted or duplicated, as suitable for the application and setting. In some embodiments, some or all of the components included in the computing devicemay be attached to one or more motherboards and enclosed in a housing (e.g., including plastic, metal, and/or other materials). In some embodiments, some these components may be fabricated onto a single system-on-a-chip (SoC) (e.g., an SoC may include one or more processing devicesand one or more storage devices). Additionally, in various embodiments, the computing devicemay not include one or more of the components illustrated in, but may include interface circuitry (not shown) for coupling to the one or more components using any suitable interface (e.g., a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) interface, a Controller Area Network (CAN) interface, a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) interface, an Ethernet interface, a wireless interface, or any other appropriate interface). For example, the computing devicemay not include a display device, but may include display device interface circuitry (e.g., a connector and driver circuitry) to which a display devicemay be coupled.

4000 4002 4002 The computing devicemay include a processing device(e.g., one or more processing devices). As used herein, the term “processing device” may refer to any device or portion of a device that processes electronic data from registers and/or memory to transform that electronic data into other electronic data that may be stored in registers and/or memory. The processing devicemay include one or more digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), cryptoprocessors (specialized processors that execute cryptographic algorithms within hardware), server processors, or any other suitable processing devices.

4000 4004 4004 4004 4002 4004 4002 4000 The computing devicemay include a storage device(e.g., one or more storage devices). The storage devicemay include one or more memory devices such as random access memory (RAM) (e.g., static RAM (SRAM) devices, magnetic RAM (MRAM) devices, dynamic RAM (DRAM) devices, resistive RAM (RRAM) devices, or conductive-bridging RAM (CBRAM) devices), hard drive-based memory devices, solid-state memory devices, networked drives, cloud drives, or any combination of memory devices. In some embodiments, the storage devicemay include memory that shares a die with a processing device. In such an embodiment, the memory may be used as cache memory and may include embedded dynamic random access memory (eDRAM) or spin transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STT-MRAM), for example. In some embodiments, the storage devicemay include non-transitory computer readable media having instructions thereon that, when executed by one or more processing devices (e.g., the processing device), cause the computing deviceto perform any appropriate ones of or portions of the methods disclosed herein.

4000 4006 4006 4006 4000 4006 4000 4006 4006 4006 4006 4006 The computing devicemay include an interface device(e.g., one or more interface devices). The interface devicemay include one or more communication chips, connectors, and/or other hardware and software to govern communications between the computing deviceand other computing devices. For example, the interface devicemay include circuitry for managing wireless communications for the transfer of data to and from the computing device. The term “wireless” and its derivatives may be used to describe circuits, devices, systems, methods, techniques, communications channels, etc., that may communicate data through the use of modulated electromagnetic radiation through a nonsolid medium. The term does not imply that the associated devices do not contain any wires, although in some embodiments they might not. Circuitry included in the interface devicefor managing wireless communications may implement any of a number of wireless standards or protocols, including but not limited to Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) standards including Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11 family), IEEE 802.16 standards (e.g., IEEE 802.16-2005 Amendment), Long-Term Evolution (LTE) project along with any amendments, updates, and/or revisions (e.g., advanced LTE project, ultra mobile broadband (UMB) project (also referred to as “3GPP2”), etc.). In some embodiments, circuitry included in the interface devicefor managing wireless communications may operate in accordance with a Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Evolved HSPA (E-HSPA), or LTE network. In some embodiments, circuitry included in the interface devicefor managing wireless communications may operate in accordance with Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE), GSM EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN), Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), or Evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN). In some embodiments, circuitry included in the interface devicefor managing wireless communications may operate in accordance with Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), and derivatives thereof, as well as any other wireless protocols that are designated as 3G, 4G, 5G, and beyond. In some embodiments, the interface devicemay include one or more antennas (e.g., one or more antenna arrays) to receipt and/or transmission of wireless communications.

4006 4006 4006 4006 4006 4006 4006 In some embodiments, the interface devicemay include circuitry for managing wired communications, such as electrical, optical, or any other suitable communication protocols. For example, the interface devicemay include circuitry to support communications in accordance with Ethernet technologies. In some embodiments, the interface devicemay support both wireless and wired communication, and/or may support multiple wired communication protocols and/or multiple wireless communication protocols. For example, a first set of circuitry of the interface devicemay be dedicated to shorter-range wireless communications such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, and a second set of circuitry of the interface devicemay be dedicated to longer-range wireless communications such as global positioning system (GPS), EDGE, GPRS, CDMA, WiMAX, LTE, EV-DO, or others. In some embodiments, a first set of circuitry of the interface devicemay be dedicated to wireless communications, and a second set of circuitry of the interface devicemay be dedicated to wired communications.

4000 4008 4008 4000 4000 The computing devicemay include battery/power circuitry. The battery/power circuitrymay include one or more energy storage devices (e.g., batteries or capacitors) and/or circuitry for coupling components of the computing deviceto an energy source separate from the computing device(e.g., AC line power).

4000 4010 4010 The computing devicemay include a display device(e.g., multiple display devices). The display devicemay include any visual indicators, such as a heads-up display, a computer monitor, a projector, a touchscreen display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light-emitting diode display, or a flat panel display.

4000 4012 4012 4000 The computing devicemay include other input/output (I/O) devices. The other I/O devicesmay include one or more audio output devices (e.g., speakers, headsets, earbuds, alarms, etc.), one or more audio input devices (e.g., microphones or microphone arrays), location devices (e.g., GPS devices in communication with a satellite-based system to receive a location of the computing device, as known in the art), audio codecs, video codecs, printers, sensors (e.g., thermocouples or other temperature sensors, humidity sensors, pressure sensors, vibration sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes, etc.), image capture devices such as cameras, keyboards, cursor control devices such as a mouse, a stylus, a trackball, or a touchpad, bar code readers, Quick Response (QR) code readers, or radio frequency identification (RFID) readers, for example.

4000 The computing devicemay have any suitable form factor for its application and setting, such as a handheld or mobile computing device (e.g., a cell phone, a smart phone, a mobile internet device, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a netbook computer, an ultrabook computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), an ultra mobile personal computer, etc.), a desktop computing device, or a server computing device or other networked computing component.

5 FIG. 1 FIG. 2 FIG. 5000 1000 2000 5010 5020 5030 5040 5000 One or more computing devices implementing any of the scientific instrument support modules or methods disclosed herein may be part of a scientific instrument support system.is a block diagram of an example scientific instrument support systemin which some or all of the scientific instrument support methods disclosed herein may be performed, in accordance with various embodiments. The scientific instrument support modules and methods disclosed herein (e.g., the scientific instrument support moduleofand the methodof) may be implemented by one or more of the scientific instrument, the user local computing device, the service local computing device, or the remote computing deviceof the scientific instrument support system.

5010 5020 5030 5040 4000 5010 5020 5030 5040 4000 4 FIG. 4 FIG. Any of the scientific instrument, the user local computing device, the service local computing device, or the remote computing devicemay include any of the embodiments of the computing devicediscussed herein with reference to, and any of the scientific instrument, the user local computing device, the service local computing device, or the remote computing devicemay take the form of any appropriate ones of the embodiments of the computing devicediscussed herein with reference to.

5010 5020 5030 5040 5002 5004 5006 5002 4002 5002 5010 5020 5030 5040 5004 5004 5004 5010 5020 5030 5040 5006 4006 5006 5010 5020 5030 5040 4 FIG. 4 FIG. 4 FIG. The scientific instrument, the user local computing device, the service local computing device, or the remote computing devicemay each include a processing device, a storage device, and an interface device. The processing devicemay take any suitable form, including the form of any of the processing devicesdiscussed herein with reference to, and the processing devicesincluded in different ones of the scientific instrument, the user local computing device, the service local computing device, or the remote computing devicemay take the same form or different forms. The storage devicemay take any suitable form, including the form of any of the storage devicesdiscussed herein with reference to, and the storage devicesincluded in different ones of the scientific instrument, the user local computing device, the service local computing device, or the remote computing devicemay take the same form or different forms. The interface devicemay take any suitable form, including the form of any of the interface devicesdiscussed herein with reference to, and the interface devicesincluded in different ones of the scientific instrument, the user local computing device, the service local computing device, or the remote computing devicemay take the same form or different forms.

5010 5020 5030 5040 5000 5008 5008 5006 5000 4006 4000 5000 5010 5020 5030 5040 5008 5030 5008 5006 5006 5010 5010 5008 5030 5020 5008 5020 5010 4 FIG. 5 FIG. The scientific instrument, the user local computing device, the service local computing device, and the remote computing devicemay be in communication with other elements of the scientific instrument support systemvia communication pathways. The communication pathwaysmay communicatively couple the interface devicesof different ones of the elements of the scientific instrument support system, as shown, and may be wired or wireless communication pathways (e.g., in accordance with any of the communication techniques discussed herein with reference to the interface devicesof the computing deviceof). The particular scientific instrument support systemdepicted inincludes communication pathways between each pair of the scientific instrument, the user local computing device, the service local computing device, and the remote computing device, but this “fully connected” implementation is simply illustrative, and in various embodiments, various ones of the communication pathwaysmay be absent. For example, in some embodiments, a service local computing devicemay not have a direct communication pathwaybetween its interface deviceand the interface deviceof the scientific instrument, but may instead communicate with the scientific instrumentvia the communication pathwaybetween the service local computing deviceand the user local computing deviceand the communication pathwaybetween the user local computing deviceand the scientific instrument.

5010 The scientific instrumentmay include any appropriate scientific instrument, such as a chromatography system, a mass spectrometer system, or a chromatography-mass spectrometer system. The chromatography system can include a gas chromatography system, a liquid chromatography system, an ion chromatography system, or any other chromatography system that can utilize an autosampler. The mass spectrometry system can include an ionization source that allows direct injection of a sample by an autosampler. The chromatography-mass spectrometry can be of any type chromatography that can utilize an autosampler to supply samples and provide the output of the chromatographic column to the mass spectrometer.

5020 4000 5010 5020 5010 5020 5010 5020 5010 5020 5020 5020 The user local computing devicemay be a computing device (e.g., in accordance with any of the embodiments of the computing devicediscussed herein) that is local to a user of the scientific instrument. In some embodiments, the user local computing devicemay also be local to the scientific instrument, but this need not be the case; for example, a user local computing devicethat is in a user's home or office may be remote from, but in communication with, the scientific instrumentso that the user may use the user local computing deviceto control and/or access data from the scientific instrument. In some embodiments, the user local computing devicemay be a laptop, smartphone, or tablet device. In some embodiments the user local computing devicemay be a portable computing device. In some embodiments, the user local computing devicemay receive notifications of injection anomalies and syringe swap events.

5030 4000 5010 5030 5010 5030 5010 5020 5040 5008 5008 5010 5020 5040 5010 5010 5010 5030 5010 5020 5040 5008 5008 5010 5020 5040 5010 5010 5020 5040 5010 5010 5020 5030 5010 5020 5010 5010 The service local computing devicemay be a computing device (e.g., in accordance with any of the embodiments of the computing devicediscussed herein) that is local to an entity that services the scientific instrument. For example, the service local computing devicemay be local to a manufacturer of the scientific instrumentor to a third-party service company. In some embodiments, the service local computing devicemay communicate with the scientific instrument, the user local computing device, and/or the remote computing device(e.g., via a direct communication pathwayor via multiple “indirect” communication pathways, as discussed above) to receive data regarding the operation of the scientific instrument, the user local computing device, and/or the remote computing device(e.g., the results of self-tests of the scientific instrument, calibration coefficients used by the scientific instrument, the measurements of sensors associated with the scientific instrument, etc.). In some embodiments, the service local computing devicemay communicate with the scientific instrument, the user local computing device, and/or the remote computing device(e.g., via a direct communication pathwayor via multiple “indirect” communication pathways, as discussed above) to transmit data to the scientific instrument, the user local computing device, and/or the remote computing device(e.g., to update programmed instructions, such as firmware, in the scientific instrument, to initiate the performance of test or calibration sequences in the scientific instrument, to update programmed instructions, such as software, in the user local computing deviceor the remote computing device, etc.). A user of the scientific instrumentmay utilize the scientific instrumentor the user local computing deviceto communicate with the service local computing deviceto report a problem with the scientific instrumentor the user local computing device, to request a visit from a technician to improve the operation of the scientific instrument, to order consumables or replacement parts associated with the scientific instrument, or for other purposes.

5040 4000 5010 5020 5040 5040 5004 5040 5010 5010 5020 5010 5030 5010 The remote computing devicemay be a computing device (e.g., in accordance with any of the embodiments of the computing devicediscussed herein) that is remote from the scientific instrumentand/or from the user local computing device. In some embodiments, the remote computing devicemay be included in a datacenter or other large-scale server environment. In some embodiments, the remote computing devicemay include network-attached storage (e.g., as part of the storage device). The remote computing devicemay store data generated by the scientific instrument, perform analyses of the data generated by the scientific instrument(e.g., in accordance with programmed instructions), facilitate communication between the user local computing deviceand the scientific instrument, and/or facilitate communication between the service local computing deviceand the scientific instrument.

5000 5000 5000 5020 5020 5000 5010 5030 5040 5030 5010 5030 5010 5010 5000 5010 5010 5020 5010 5040 5010 5020 5012 5 FIG. 5 FIG. In some embodiments, one or more of the elements of the scientific instrument support systemillustrated inmay not be present. Further, in some embodiments, multiple ones of various ones of the elements of the scientific instrument support systemofmay be present. For example, a scientific instrument support systemmay include multiple user local computing devices(e.g., different user local computing devicesassociated with different users or in different locations). In another example, a scientific instrument support systemmay include multiple scientific instruments, all in communication with service local computing deviceand/or a remote computing device; in such an embodiment, the service local computing devicemay monitor these multiple scientific instruments, and the service local computing devicemay cause updates or other information may be “broadcast” to multiple scientific instrumentsat the same time. Different ones of the scientific instrumentsin a scientific instrument support systemmay be located close to one another (e.g., in the same room) or farther from one another (e.g., on different floors of a building, in different buildings, in different cities, etc.). In some embodiments, a scientific instrumentmay be connected to an Internet-of-Things (IoT) stack that allows for command and control of the scientific instrumentthrough a web-based application, a virtual or augmented reality application, a mobile application, and/or a desktop application. Any of these applications may be accessed by a user operating the user local computing devicein communication with the scientific instrumentby the intervening remote computing device. In some embodiments, a scientific instrumentmay be sold by the manufacturer along with one or more associated user local computing devicesas part of a local scientific instrument computing unit.

5010 5000 5010 5010 5010 5040 5020 5010 5000 In some embodiments, different ones of the scientific instrumentsincluded in a scientific instrument support systemmay be different types of scientific instruments; for example, one scientific instrumentmay be a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry system, while another scientific instrumentmay be a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry system. In some such embodiments, the remote computing deviceand/or the user local computing devicemay combine data from different types of scientific instrumentsincluded in a scientific instrument support system.

6 FIG. 6000 6002 illustrates a methodof changing a syringe. At, an injection anomaly is detected. In various embodiments, the injection anomaly can be detected by analyzing the data generated from the analysis of the sample, such as a chromatogram or a mass spectrum. When there is a problem with sample injection that causes little or no sample to be injected, the peaks in the chromatogram or mass spectrum can be very small or non-existent. Thus, an injection anomaly can be detected by the absence of significant peak intensities. This can be detected by determined by comparing the peak intensifies to a threshold, such that if a mean peak intensity is below the threshold, the system can determine an injection anomaly has occurred.

6004 At, the system can determine is a needle or plunger of a syringe used for injecting the sample is bent or misaligned. In various embodiments, an image of the syringe and needle can be captured using an image capture device and analysis of the image can determine if the position of the needle tip is within tolerances. If the needle tip is outside of tolerances, such as too far to the left or right in the image, this can indicate the needle is not correctly inserting through a septum of the sample container or into an injection port of the system and the needle can be considered bent or otherwise damaged.

6006 6008 At, if the needle is determined to be bent or damaged, the sequence of sample analyses can be paused. At, the syringe can be switched out and a replacement syringe can be obtained. In various embodiments, this can happen without user intervention by instructing the autosampler to rotate a syringe carrier to position a new syringe in the active position or to place the damaged syringe in a syringe holder and pick up replacement syringe from another position on the syringe holder.

6010 At, a precheck of the syringe can be performed. In various embodiments, this can include determining a syringe plunger position, determining a needle depth, verifying the operation of the syringe such as by performing a wash step. Additionally, the precheck of the syringe can include verifying the location of the vials in the autosampler to ensure that no vials are missing.

6012 6014 6016 6018 At, the system can determine if the syringe precheck is passed. At, if the syringe precheck is passed, the system can repeat the sample and, at, resume the sequence of sample analyses. Alternately, if the syringe precheck fails, at, the system can notify the user and remain in the paused state.

6004 6020 6022 6018 6016 6006 Returning to, when a bent needle or bent plunger is not detected, the injection anomaly may be caused by a clogged syringe or it may be a random error. At, the system can reinject the sample and repeat the analysis. At, the system can determine if the injection anomaly reoccurs of is corrected. If the injection anomaly is corrected and doesn't reoccur with the reinjection of the sample at, the system can resume the sequence of sample analyses at. Alternatively, detecting the anomaly again can be indicative of a clogged syringe, and the system can pause the sequence atin preparation of replacing the syringe.

6002 6004 6004 6012 In various embodiments, notifications and logging can occur at various times, including atwhen an injection anomaly is detected, atwhen a bent needle is detected at, atwhen the syringe precheck passes or when the syringe precheck fails, and at any combination thereof. Notification can include sending one or more of an email, a text message, displaying a message on a user interface, sending a push notification to a portable device, and the like. Logging can include adding an entry to one or more of an audit log, a system log, and the like.